03/12/2024
Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
In our peacebuilding dialogue sessions, we embrace inclusion as a way to honor and celebrate diversity.
Uwimbabazi Seraphine is a member of the therapy group in our project “USAID Dufatanye Urumuri” in Ngoma District. In 1994, Seraphine was only 10 years old. During the Genocide against the Tutsi, a group of killers attacked her home, killing her father and leaving her disabled. Grenades exploded, and shrapnel took one of her eyes. Today, Seraphine is struggling with low vision due to significantly reduced visual acuity.
“I was so angry because I would look at my condition and feel like no one would ever love me,” she said.
One of the killers who injured Seraphine and killed her father was Sindambiwe Isaie. He was imprisoned for over 11 years for his involvement in the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Growing up, Seraphine harbored deep anger towards Sindambiwe. She said: “When I heard Sindambiwe had been released from prison, I felt deeply hurt.” Sindambiwe had repeatedly asked for forgiveness from Seraphine’s mother, but she did not grant it immediately.
At that time, Seraphine was still grappling with trauma and anger. When she learned about the therapy group of the USAID Dufatanye Urumuri project, she joined to heal and overcome the pain she had endured during the genocide. At first, it was not easy, but step by step, she healed from the trauma and eventually accepted her mother’s suggestion to forgive Sindambiwe, who had joined the project earlier.
After this reconciliation, Seraphine organized a formal wedding ceremony, as she had been living with her husband without officially and legally marrying. She invited Sindambiwe to the wedding and even gave him a role during the event, assigning him the responsibility of serving drinks. Later, when Sindambiwe’s grandchildren were baptized, he invited Seraphine’s family, and they joyfully celebrated the occasion together.
hashtag
